Man arrested after woman killed in California boardwalk hit-and-run rampage

A California man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a driver plowed his car into pedestrians on the popular Venice Beach boardwalk, killing an Italian woman on her honeymoon and injuring 11 other people, police said on Sunday.

Los Angeles police said Nathan Campbell, 38, was taken into custody late on Saturday after the car involved was found in nearby Santa Monica where they say Campbell lives, and where he later turned himself in.

Witnesses said it appeared the car’s driver had been aiming for pedestrians on Saturday while driving down the popular Oceanside walkway at speeds up to 30 kilometres-per-hour while people screamed and scrambled to get out of the way.

Security video footage shows the driver parking the car – a dark-colored Dodge Avenger – across the boardwalk from a cafe and getting out, apparently to look at the crowd. The driver then got back in the car and drove it into the crowd before backing up and apparently steering toward another group of people, the footage showed.

A police spokeswoman said Campbell was arrested on suspicion of murder after questioning, but could not give further details on what charges he faces, a possible motive, or whether he was under the influence of drugs of alcohol at the time. Bail was set at US$1 million, police said.

Ten of the 12 people injured were taken to hospitals on Saturday – two in critical condition, one of whom died – and two in serious condition. Injuries included broken bones and head trauma, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Police identified the deceased pedestrian on Sunday as a 32-year-old Italian woman who had been on her honeymoon, without giving further details.

The Venice Beach boardwalk is a major tourist attraction known for its eclectic patchwork of shops, restaurants and sporting areas.

In 2003, an elderly man drove his car through a crowded farmers’ market in nearby Santa Monica, killing 10 people and injuring 69.